[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 9, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1130-H1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AMERICAN DAIRY FARMERS NEED AN URGENT FIX

  (Mr. JACOBS of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JACOBS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my 
legislation, the Dairy H-2A Eligibility Act.
  As I have traveled around my district and met with dairy farmers, 
their number one need has consistently been a reliable workforce.
  Currently, dairy farms do not have access to the H-2A visa program 
because their work is not considered seasonal. My very simple one-page 
piece of legislation would simply make dairy workers eligible for these 
temporary work visas.
  Farming is the largest economic driver in my district, and dairy 
farming is a critical part of the American economy and food supply.
  We need to ensure that farmers have the resources and workforce they 
need

[[Page H1131]]

while enforcing our immigration laws and preventing illegal 
immigration.
  This change would put dairy farmers on equal footing with other H-2A 
employers and adhere to the same rules and regulations in force today.
  As larger reforms to the agriculture workforce are debated, I ask for 
the consideration of this urgent fix to ensure American dairy farmers 
can continue to provide for the American families and thrive for 
generations to come.

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